How Should Teams Treat the Depth of Backlog Detail?
Focus on the “why” and “what,” not premature “how,” because information will emerge during the Sprint and work may evolve. Each team learns how much detail is sufficient to start and finish within a Sprint.
Metaphor
Backlog detail is like packing for a trip—you don’t need to plan every outfit down to Tuesday’s socks, just enough to be ready for the journey. The common trait is flexibility: too much upfront detail weighs you down, while too little leaves you unprepared.
Likewise, teams should carry only the level of backlog detail needed to start and finish work in a Sprint, letting specifics emerge along the way.
Finding the right depth of backlog detail is about balance—too shallow and work can’t be started, too deep and refinement becomes wasteful.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking: (1)
^ Parent